Sebastian Lockwood's group had come to Keston on a medical research mission. Since arriving, they hadn't had a proper chance to go out and have fun. Now that an opportunity presented itself, Donovan Sheridan certainly wasn't going to let it pass.
He wasn't like Sebastian Lockwood, who'd forget his friends the moment he had a girl to dote on.
'Who could possibly understand the loneliness of a young bachelor?'
He had even gone online to specifically search for a "One-Day Keston Tour" guide.
But when he met up with Sebastian Lockwood and saw the Sawyer siblings, he was a little dumbfounded.
He'd assumed it would just be the two of them. He'd clearly been delusional.
"Hello, Mr. Shaw." Chester Sawyer gestured for him to take a seat in the back.
"Where are we going?" Donovan Sheridan felt like the guide he'd looked up last night was a complete waste of time.
Sebastian Lockwood said, "Taking Chester to go driving."
"Thanks, Second Brother!" Chester Sawyer was ecstatic.
Donovan Sheridan frowned.
'Second Brother? He changed what he calls him?'
'The kid probably doesn't know that even in Aethelgard, very few people get to call him 'Second Brother.' He has no idea what a powerful connection he's just stumbled into.'
Sydney Sawyer sat in the passenger seat, head down, texting a friend.
[That whole "a woman pursuing a man is separated only by a thin veil of gauze" thing is total bullshit. Unless the guy is already interested in you, that veil is more like a barbed-wire fence. An electrified one. So I think your Mr. Lockwood definitely has feelings for you.]
[This is a rare opportunity. You need to be more proactive.]
[And even though he's gone from being 'Mr. Lockwood' to 'Second Brother,' you still need to be careful. You don't want this to end with you two becoming sworn siblings instead of lovers.]
...
Sydney Sawyer continued texting, all while sneaking glances at Sebastian Lockwood.
'Proactive?'
'How am I supposed to be proactive?!'
———
The car drove to the suburbs and, after traversing a short, bumpy path, stopped in front of a jungle-themed off-road club.
"This is where we're going driving?" Sydney Sawyer asked, sizing up the place.
Besides the club itself, the surroundings were basically wilderness.
"Don't worry, it's a legitimate establishment," Sebastian Lockwood said with a smile.
"That's not what I meant..."
Sydney Sawyer got out of the car, half-convinced. Seeing the advertisements and price lists posted at the club's entrance, she realized they would be riding ATVs. As the four of them entered, they were greeted enthusiastically by the staff.
Chester Sawyer was buzzing with excitement and couldn't wait to change into the gear provided by the club.
"You don't like this sort of thing?" Sebastian Lockwood tilted his head to look at her, asking in a low voice.
"It's not that, I've just never done it before."
'She couldn't very well tell him that her only experience was with bumper cars at an amusement park.'
"You can give it a try."
Sydney Sawyer changed into the gear and put on the protective equipment, feeling a bit dazed the entire time.
By the time she came out carrying her helmet, Chester was already on a test drive under an instructor's guidance.
Sebastian Lockwood and Donovan Sheridan were standing beside him, occasionally offering pointers.
The club provided blue outfits for men and red for women, which had the look of racing suits.
Under the shimmering golden sunlight, Sebastian Lockwood casually leaned an arm on an ATV, a helmet in his other hand. The suit accentuated his narrow waist and long legs.
The outfit cost 30 yuan to rent, yet he wore it with an air of elegance and nobility, exuding an indescribable, magnetic tension.
He wasn't wearing his glasses, and a smile played on his lips.
Just like the first time she had ever seen him...
'Dashing and vibrant, with a wild streak. Even his casual indifference was incredibly captivating.'
If she hadn't seen this side of him, how could she have fallen for him so completely?
Just then, Sebastian Lockwood noticed her and patted Donovan Sheridan on the shoulder.
"Mr. Shaw, I'm leaving Chester with you."
"Leaving him with me?"
"You've done this before, you have experience," Sebastian Lockwood said, then glanced at Chester. "Chester, I'm going to go check on your sister. You be careful, and if you need anything, just ask Mr. Shaw."
'He wasn't getting called 'Mr. Shaw' for free.'
"No problem," Chester replied, his mind completely focused on learning to drive the ATV.
With that, Sebastian Lockwood walked toward Sydney Sawyer.
Donovan Sheridan took a deep breath.
'So I'm just here to babysit for you, is that it?!'
'Get rid of the two third wheels so you can go flirt with your girl?'
'Sebastian Lockwood, you've really got it all planned out, haven't you?'
...
"Chester's already got the hang of it. Aren't you going to give it a try?" Sebastian Lockwood had reached Sydney Sawyer's side.
Sydney Sawyer nodded, put on her helmet, and got on the vehicle with the staff's help.
This type of ATV didn't require much driving knowledge; it was fairly easy to master.
"You can try it out on the practice track, but there are a few steep slopes. Since it's your first time, it might be a bit difficult. An instructor can sit behind you and guide you."
It was Sydney Sawyer's first time driving one, and she was indeed feeling apprehensive. "I think I will need an instructor with me."
"We'll arrange one for you, then."
The staff member had just finished speaking and turned to arrange for an instructor when his gaze suddenly met Sebastian Lockwood's.
He was smiling, but his eyes looked like they could kill.
"...Actually, how about this? Your friend knows how to ride. Have him sit behind you and guide you. It'll be safer, and you two know each other well."
'Sebastian Lockwood... guiding me?'
'Is that... appropriate?'
But a voice deep inside her was screaming:
'It's appropriate! It's beyond appropriate!'
The temptation of being so close to him was something she couldn't refuse.
"Want me to take you for a lap?" Sebastian Lockwood asked.
Sydney Sawyer nodded with a muffled sound, her hands gripping the handlebars tightly.
A few seconds later, she felt a wave of warmth approach from behind her.
Her upper body went completely stiff, afraid to make the slightest move. Yet her senses seemed to sharpen, and she could clearly feel Sebastian Lockwood's presence slowly enveloping her.
"You can start now."
His voice was calm. Sydney Sawyer nodded in reply, started the engine, and drove onto the practice track.
But she had underestimated the track's difficulty. The club's main attraction was suburban off-roading, and even the practice track was full of potholes, slopes, and muddy patches, making for a bumpy ride.
This kind of terrain was inherently difficult to control. Sydney Sawyer was a novice, and with Sebastian Lockwood sitting behind her, she was a nervous wreck—even though he was being a perfect gentleman and maintaining his distance.
She ended up crashing into the side barriers several times, requiring the staff to come and pull the ATV back onto the track.
By the end, she had lost all confidence in her ability to drive it back.
"Second Brother, why don't you drive?"
"Try again. Go slower, don't rush."
Sebastian Lockwood's words didn't seem to have any calming effect. Her control over the vehicle was terrible. Just as she was about to crash into the side again, a pair of hands reached out from behind her, adjusted her direction, and steadied the ATV.
His arms brushed against hers, enveloping Sydney Sawyer in his embrace.
His chest was pressed lightly against her back.
Even through their clothes, she felt as if her back was on fire.
"Don't rush, hm?"
His voice was right beside her ear.
It was soft, yet it felt like an open flame was teasing her skin.
"I'm right behind you. Don't be afraid."
Sydney Sawyer gave a muffled nod, and Sebastian Lockwood pulled back.
She slowly started driving again.
The June wind already carried the sweltering heat of midsummer, blowing hot and sticky against her face.
Sydney Sawyer's heart pounded violently with every jolt of the ATV, and the whistling wind beat against her eardrums...
All she could hear was the rush of hot wind.
And the frantic, fluttering beat of her own heart.
———
「Meanwhile」
Donovan Sheridan had taken Chester Sawyer from the practice track to the official one.
It was Chester's first time, so he was a bit nervous. For the first lap, Donovan drove while Chester sat behind him to observe, one arm wrapped around Donovan's waist and the other holding his phone, claiming he was filming a vlog.
"Mr. Shaw, this is so exciting! Do you and Second Brother do this often? I never knew Second Brother could ride an ATV."
Chester had thought they were just going for a drive in the countryside; he had no idea a place like this existed in Keston.
Donovan Sheridan scoffed.
'Ha, you really don't know Sebastian Lockwood at all.'
He frowned. "Kid, can you not hold on to me so tight?"
'A girl has never even held me like this. Are you trying to snap my back in half, kid?'
"I'm nervous! I'm scared!"
"..."
'You're holding up your phone, filming a video, and saying how exciting it is?'
'You call that being scared?'
'Like hell I believe you!'
'You're just like Sebastian Lockwood. Neither of you is any good.'